tinyfuzz

I'm curious to see what everyone would say about this, about how many pilots are employed by Pinnacle? and how many of them are from backgrounds that extend from academy type training where they were placed in the right seat w/ this type of training immediately after completion of school? the reason I'm inquiring about this is b/c I myself is planning on perusing this option. I want a straight answer please don't over criticize it, but be straight to the point please. This is a very expensive route. I know the airline market is a very different market than what it used to be, not only in the way how pilots were produced by the military but the profit factor. I have shopped enough schools to name the verbatim the sales ppl pitch every time. From what I have analysed I learned 3 ways to be a pilot today: a. govt unc'l sam b. work on p/t or f/t at going the small fbo route to go from private -> multi -> w/ glass -> cf-II then log time c. join a fast phased academy and cash in to be indebted. so this is what's floating in my head.

thanks,
i am sure i'll be able to see some constructive responses here. i've been reading reading and thinking marinating all sorts of responses talking to many different ppl in the industry w/ various backgrounds who took different approaches. my ultimate goal is to be happy flying int'l someday. i'm 23/4 in a couple of mos w/ a bachelors of sci in mis under the belt.

ToiletDuck

According to http://airlinepilotcentral.com/airli.../pinnacle.html 1,200 total but I have a feeling that number needs to be updated.

Silver02ex

FO here... I worked 2 years as a CFI. 10 months of flying single pilot freight in the NW. 402's, Navajo, Seneca's. I would never consider doing the PFT or ATP thing. The route I did got me the experience I need and it was a lot cheaper.

jdr7225

Dont do the PFT thing, like the Embry Riddle Capt, Gulfstream, or Jet University thing. I think the ATP this is the way to go if you want to do it fast. But the FBO thing is just as good as long as you dont mind it taking just a while longer. There are so many options out there, you just have to figure out what will work for you. I went to ATP, instructed, and flew for a private company in a turbo prop before making my way to the airlines. ATP isnt a bad option but it is not the only option. Do your research and just remember that the cheapest or the most expensive is not always the best.

sflpilot

Great experience. It will serve you well in the future when you upgrade. I wish there were more people flying RJ's that have the experience level that you do.

Airsupport

We now have a little over 1300 pilots at pinnacle. In my fo class, a little over a year ago, there were 4 cfi's, 3 corporate guys, and a c130 milt. guy. A class behind me had a couple of atp guys. Pinnacle still hires them if you go through the program, but in all honesty, i dont think there is that many of them coming through as people think. I personally don't know the name of anyone here at pncl that went through any of those programs.( not saying there aren't any, just saying that they are so far and few between that in a year and a half i couldn't tell you the name of any of them)